Icy stretches due as status yellow snow and ice warning issued for entire country

Heading into the weekend, the weather is expected to remain unsettled while it will also be cold at times.

A status yellow snow and ice warning has been issued for the whole country.

The warning is in place from 4pm today until 11am on Friday when there will be “hazardous travelling conditions”.

Met Éireann has said that rain will extend eastwards early today to all areas and will be heavy at times. 

"It will clear later this morning with sunny spells and frequent blustery showers following, some heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms," the forecaster said.

These showers will turn "increasingly wintry" this afternoon and evening. 

Tonight will be "cold and blustery" with widespread wintry showers, some of snow with accumulations in parts of Connacht and Ulster and on high ground. 

"Some hail and a few thunderstorms in Atlantic coastal counties also". 

Heading into the weekend, the weather is expected to remain unsettled while it will also be cold at times.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has advised motorists to check local traffic and weather conditions before setting out on any essential journeys.

In icy conditions, road users are being reminded to slow down, use all controls delicately and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front.

“Avoid over steering and harsh braking and harsh acceleration. Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Select a low gear when travelling downhill especially if through bends,” the RSA has advised.

Elsewhere, a status yellow snow and ice warning has been issued by the UK Met Office for Antrim, Armagh, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry.

It is warning: “Frequent sleet, hail and snow showers may lead to some disruption to travel during Thursday night and Friday morning.” 

The warning will be in place from 8pm on Thursday until 11am on Friday.